Hand-guard attachment for shovels.



J. w. TANKERSLEYI HAND GUARD ATTACHMENT FOR SHOVELS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I8, 1915.

Patented Mar. 14-, 1916.

' upper edge of the shovel blade.

. near the net or forming a part of the some,

Specification of Letters Patent.

. ED-G'FiABD ATTACHMENT FOR SHOV ELS.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916 Application filed Qctooer 18, 1915. Serial No. 56,598.

the junction of the blade and handle with an upstanding portion to shield the hand of the operator with which he grasps the handle blade when shoveling coal into the furnace.

A further object is to produce a shield of the character outlined, which can be easily and quickly attached to or detached front the shovel.

With these general objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter described andclaimed,

and inorder that it may be fully understood reference to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1, is a fragmentary plan view of a coal shovel or scoop equipped with 'a shield embodying my invention. Fig. 2, is a view showing the rear of the shield and-shovel blade-in elevation and the handle in section.

Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the shovel and the shield. v

In the said drawing, 1 indicates the bliide and 2 the handle of the shovel, the some being of .any suitable type for feeding a locomotive boiler furnace or the like.

The shield 3, is of sheet metal and of substantially rectangular form with rounded upper corners, by preference, and bent slightly to conform to the curvature of the The shield is provided near its lower end with a bifurcation l, to receive the handle of the shovel. The bifurcation is of such depth that the shield can be fitted down over the handle until the lower edges of the former slightly overlap the edge ofthe rear portionof the.

the preferred construct-ion be shovel blade, ing to fit the shield behind-the rear or upturned edge of the blade as shown.

5 is a bracket riveted to the shield at its rear side and just above the bifurcation and in any suitablema-nsecured to said bruclret if desired, is a. substantially circular spring clasp 6 terminating in diverging ends 7 to -produce a flared mouth for the clasp for facilitating its engagement with the handle of the shovel, it being understood that as the shield is slipped into position, the handle entering (the flared mouth will spring the clasp open and that the latter will snap back to closed position and-thus retain the shield against accidental upward movement with respect tothe blade of the shovel.

To guard against turning or-swivel movement of the shield on the handle and also to hold the shield bentto oonform'to thecurvature of the rear or upturned portion of the blade the shield is provided at each lower corner with clamping jaws 8, each preferably consisting of a; pair of spring plates riveted to and depending from the shield and bent slightly outward at their free ends as at 9, to produce. flared mouths for facilitating the engagement of said jaws with the upturned portion of the shovel blade as shown.

The shield is provided with a. large number of fine holes lflthrough which the air can circulate and'thereby prevent the shield itself from becoming so hot through close exposure to heat from a furnace as to en danger the hand by which, the operator ,g'raspsthe handle adjacent the blade of the shovel, it being well known that it very r'requently happens that firemen have their hands blistered and their gloves sometimes set on fire when firing locomotives, and this shield is intended as a. protection for the hand in such service.

Most firemen are righthanded and therefore grasp the handles of their shovels with the left hands near the blades thereof. It'

will be noted that the shield shown extends for substantially the full width of the shovel blade at one side. Such a blade will protect the wrist and forearm as well as the hand .which grasps the handle near the shovel blade. For a lefthanded man who grasps the handle at the point mentioned with his right hand, it will be preferable to provide a shield which extends to the left hand side of the blade instead of the right. Of course the shield might be made as wide as the standard shovel and .have the bifurcation midway itswidth and thus be serviceable for either right handed or left handed firemen.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a shield for coal shovels embodying the features of advantage enumerated as desirahlein the statement of the object of the invention and I Wish it to be understood that I reserve theright to make all changes fallinv" Within the spiriti distance above the adjacent end of the hair.

dle to protect the hand of the operator-I grasping th handle near the shield; said shield havingemall perforations through which air free to circulate. i

3. A shovel pro vided at the rear edge of *the blade with a shield rising a substantial distance above the adjacent end of the Iran-- dle to protect the hand of the operator,

grasping the handle near the shielchl and means for detaehably securing the shield inposition. 4. A shovel provided v at the rear edge of i the blade with a shield rising a substantial distance. above the ad acent end. of the ham; I

dle to protect the hand of the operatorw grasping the handle near the shield, a .clasp secured to the shield and detaehahly engag ing'thehandle, and clamping aws carried.

by the-shield and engaged with the rear edge 1 of the shovel blade.

The combination with a shhvellof-a shield, fitting against and projeetingnpward from the rear end of the shovel blade andprovided with a bifurcation through which the handle of the shovel extends, a;

spring clasp secured! to the shield at its rear side and nrnily' clasping the handle, .and spring 3aws secured to the shield at its lower corners, each set of ljaws grippingthe rear;

edge of the blade.

JOHN 7W. TANKE KEELEY. 

